Julie Collins (Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Small Business) Share this | Hansard source

This is really deeply distressing for all of those Australians who had been relying on this funding to get more homes on the ground and for those Australians who need somewhere to live today. Can I tell the House that when we talk about delays to this fund what we're talking about is $250 million for every six-month delay. Every day of delay past 1 July is $1.3 million a day that we are not spending on social and affordable housing for Australians that need it today because those two parties teamed up against very important legislation.

I say to those Australians who are doing it tough out there: we do have a broad housing agenda, and we are getting on with the job. You saw that on the weekend with our significant announcement, with the $575 million we announced last year, with our Housing Accord and with our changes in the last budget. This government is being very serious about getting more homes on the ground and getting more Australians into safe, affordable homes. It's a shame we can't say that about some of the people in this place.

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